Homebrew Tasting/Exchange Wed. June 29 WaSC (past event)

There's been talk from time to time about all the LTH homebrewers and other beer aficionados getting together to exchange brews and generally talk and drink beer. Gus, at Wiener and Still Champion, has graciously offered his restaurant for that purpose Wednesday evening, June 29, starting at 7:30. And what goes better with beer than Gus' award-winning fries?

I'll be bringing a Milk Stout, Old Ale, Oyster Stout, Smoked beer, and probably a bunch of others I can't think of now. Let me know if you're interested; hope to see a lot of LTHers there.

Wiener and Still Champion
802 Dempster St.
Evanston, IL
(1/2 block west of the Dempster St. El stop on the purple line (from the city, connect from the red line at Howard)

Note the new date, to give folks a bit more time to plan ahead.

In. Bringing homebrewed witbier and roggenbier (rye beer -- brewed two days ago; haven't tasted or even bottled yet).

This sounds great. It sounds as though you're welcoming people without any home brews. As a beer enthusiast with no homebrew, how could I make up the difference? Should i bring some bottles of my favorite non-homebrew? A friend and I are at the beginning stages of making our first homebrew. We would love nothing more than to leach some knowledge out of your brains, as well as taste some of your creations.

If we are welcome, count us in for 2 spots at the event and let us know what to bring.

In addition to the excellent beverages, I'm just hoping to try some of Gus' fried gravy and his new, as yet unannounced (I think) on-a-stick creation.

After the reschedule I think I can make it. Possibly my homebrewing friend and neighbor Bob as well. I will be bringing some oatmeal stout and a Cane & Ebel clone and a little barleywine, we'll see what else. Don't know what Bob will dig up for it yet.

laikom wrote:This sounds great. It sounds as though you're welcoming people without any home brews. As a beer enthusiast with no homebrew, how could I make up the difference? Should i bring some bottles of my favorite non-homebrew? A friend and I are at the beginning stages of making our first homebrew. We would love nothing more than to leach some knowledge out of your brains, as well as taste some of your creations.

If we are welcome, count us in for 2 spots at the event and let us know what to bring.

Of course you're welcome. You'll be required to bring thirst, and an honest, objective, no-holds-barred opinion of everything you taste.

Shaping up to be awesome. Thanks, Tom, for engineering what promises to be a fine event.

FYI - we'll probably have a few non-LTHers from the Evanston Homebrew Club. More different beers to taste ...

... and a few from the (relatively new) CHAOS homebrew club ...

no need to RSVP, just show up

Hoping Gus will be able to whip up some of the chili cheese on a stick I've been reading so much about: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food ... ideas.html

I'll be bicycling there straight from work, beers in backpack. They will be warm when I arrive. I doubt there'll be an issue getting them put on ice when I get there but just in case, FYI I'll need to get my beers on ice when I get there. I'm only bringing a couple bottles each of my RIPA and barleywine.

See you tonight

Thanks to everyone who came out. In addition to Hammond, JimTheBeerGuy, and Laikom, we had a good turnout from the Evanston Hombrewers Club. There were plenty of beers to sample - I particularly remember Hammond's Roggenbier, for its spicy, rye character, and Jim's rich, mouthfilling barleywine. And I was pleasantly surprised with the 1987 Samichlaus we opened - it had transformed from a beer to something vaguely wine-port-sherry-like, with just a hint of carbonation. It proved that good beers (this was 14% ABV) can age as well, if not better, than good wines.

The evening also confirmed my premise that a good homebrewer can produce beers as good, or better, than most commercial brews.

Thanks also goes out to Gus, at Wiener and Still Champion, for allowing all this beer drinking in his place. There couldn't be any better match for his food than good beer.

It was a great event indeed! I posted about the 1987 Samichlaus on my facebook and all my beer nerd friends are quite jealous. Thanks for organizing, I got to talk about brewing with a lot of very knowledgeable people.

nr706 wrote: It proved that good beers (this was 14% ABV) can age as well, if not better, than good wines..

Really?
I'm going to have to disagree with that statement...

mhill95149 wrote:Really?
I'm going to have to disagree with that statement...

I've got a bunch of 1982 Bordeaux - especially some St. Emillion Gran Gru Classe bottles. Last time I opened one (almost a year ago), it was excellent, deeply flavorful, contemplative ... but wouldn't match the fascinating complexity of the 1987 Samichlas.

I also have a bottle of 1994 Sam Adams Triple Bock (18% ABV) that I have yet to open ... maybe in ten years or so ...

There's certainly a long history of aging wines, while beers in the same alcohol range are a newer development, but I'm sticking by my statement that big beers can age comparably to fine wines.

YMMV

nr706 wrote:

mhill95149 wrote:Really?
I'm going to have to disagree with that statement...

I've got a bunch of 1982 Bordeaux - especially some St. Emillion Gran Gru Classe bottles. Last time I opened one (almost a year ago), it was excellent, deeply flavorful, contemplative ... but wouldn't match the fascinating complexity of the 1987 Samichlas.

I also have a bottle of 1994 Sam Adams Triple Bock (18% ABV) that I have yet to open ... maybe in ten years or so ...

There's certainly a long history of aging wines, while beers in the same alcohol range are a newer development, but I'm sticking by my statement that big beers can age comparably to fine wines.

YMMV

but you are not sticking to what you said, you have already changed it from

if not better, than good wines..

to

comparably to fine wines

just sayin'....

I really do not have a problem with "comparably to fine wines" but we will have to agree to disagree on your original post
as stated....

I don't mean for anything I type to be taken literally or specifically ...

nr706 wrote:I don't mean for anything I type to be taken literally or specifically ...

I think you you just wrote the next sig line for the forum!

I think the amazing part of the 1987 beer was that we all expected it to be possibly terrible. When it was actually delicious, we then had the option of comparing it with a decently aged beer, wine or other liquor. I found it to be amongst the best aged wines I've tasted. Compile that with the unexpectedness it was such a moving and unique experience that it would have to rank among the best of aged liquors, wine, beer or other that I or most of the people at the event have experienced. certainly an experience that any of us will be lucky to ever be part of again! Though it's my understanding that tom has a few more stashed away.

Molasses, soy sauce, sherry, intense: a quarter cup was easily enough to satisfy.

Thanks, Tom, for bringing along this amazing brew.

David Hammond wrote:Molasses, soy sauce, sherry, intense: a quarter cup was easily enough to satisfy.

Thanks, Tom, for bringing along this amazing brew.

Late to the party, but the most amazing aged beers are certainly as good of candidates for aging as wine. Read this as Vintage Thomas Hardy's and several Gueuze. Two most amazing beers I've had were an '86 Thomas Hardy's which reminded me of a PX Sherry & an '84 Eylenbosch Gueuze. The latter actually was an exception, as most other bottles that have surfaced are not in good shape and have picked up unrefined oxidation. I will have to say, however, that 99.99% of beers are not really worth aging.

I've been out of the LTH loop for awhile and just came upon this thread. Wish I knew about the meet up sooner as my husband recently got into home brewing and I think he would love to meet up with others for a homebrew tasting/exchange.

Are there plans to organize future tasting events? Any chance there's a group who meets or would be interested in meeting in the city?